January 09, 2014

Our Heroes: All-time top 10?

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW OUR “MOST ADMIRED” OF THE PAST? When Gallup began listing Americans’ “most admired” men and women, in 1946, this man was named TIME Magazine’s Man of the Year. James F. Byrne was U.S. Secretary of State for less than two stormy years. At the end of 1946, he looked like an anti-Stalin Cold War hero. Now, Byrne is all but forgotten. Among your heroes, who do you think will be remembered in half a century?

Admiration is an emotional feeling of approval, respect, and esteem. An archaic meaning of the term is “wonder”—someone or something that is truly amazing, astonishing, or surprising. So far this week, we’ve examined the latest Gallup rankings of the “most-admired” men and women in the world. But Gallup has been asking the most-admired question for decades.

Who’s on Gallup’s all-time list? Do they create awe and wonder?

First, the men’s list. Who’s been on the top ten list more times than anyone else? I’ll give you a hint. It’s a religious figure.

If you guessed Billy Graham, you’re right. In the latest Gallup poll, the 95-year-old evangelist and Baptist minister—and spiritual advisor to several presidents—ranks #5 on the most-admired man list. He has been in the top ten 56 times before. He has the most top ten finishes of any man.

How about the all-time most admired woman? Gallup began asking about the most-admired women in 1948. From then until now, who’s made more top ten lists than any other woman?

That distinction goes to Queen Elizabeth II. She’s been on 46 top-ten lists. Second comes another Brit: Margaret Thatcher, with 34 appearances on the top ten list. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis is third, followed by Oprah Winfrey, and Hilary Clinton.